The 14 Most Incredible Domes in the World

A dome is an interesting architectural element that resembles the upper half of a sphere. While its definition is controversial, the effect it has on us humans is clear. Domes simply fascinate us.

Traces of domes go back to prehistory, and along the time, they were built out of mud, stone, snow, concrete, brick, metal and other materials as well. They’ve been found in the early Mesopotamia, and in the Ancient World as well, in Roman, Persian and Chinese architecture and have spread out all over the world until today.

The popularity of the dome is strictly tied to its symbolism. The dome embodies the sky, which plays a powerful part in celestial and mortuary traditions all over the world and since a very long time ago. That’s why we’re most probably impressed by a dome shaped roof, because it sparks something inside us.

But beyond the symbolism of it, there are other architectural elements that impress us a great deal when we see them, so let’s now take a look at the most incredible domes in the world:

14. The United States Capitol, Washington D.C.

Situated atop the Capitol Hill in Washington DC, The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the US Congress. The building dates from 1800 but the original dome was replaced when the building was expanded and the one in place today is built of cast iron.

13. St. Paul’s Cathedral, London

Dating from the 17th century, the St. Paul’s Cathedral is one of the most important landmarks of London. It’s impressive dome has a height of 108 meters and resembles the St. Peter’s Basilica.

Along its history, the building has gone through some difficult times, the most important ones being the Great Fire of London and the bombings in the Second World War, but it still stands today as the seat of the Bishop of London.

12. Great Stupa at Sanchi, India

The Great Stupa at Sanchi dates back to the 3rd century BC and was commissioned by the emperor Ashoka the Great. It’s one of the oldest buildings in India, has a stone clad structure in the form of a semisphere, and covers and shelters the relics of Buddha.

11. The Eden Project, Cornwall, UK

The Eden Project in Cornwall, England boasts with the fact that it’s the largest greenhouse in the world right now, having plants from all over the globe.

The building features two immense enclosures of adjoining domes, with each enclosure creating a different natural biome. The domes are made of hexagonal and pentagonal plastic cells built on steel support frames.

10. Lotfollah Mosque, Iran

Located in Isfahan, Iran, the Lotfollah Mosque was built during the 16th century as a private mosque for the royal court.

While it has no minarets and it’s smaller than the Shah Mosque found in the same city, its dome is the mosque’s most prominent and beautiful aesthetical feature, hence the fact that it was called the Domed Mosque as well for its impressive beauty.

9. Reichstag, Berlin

Berlin, Germany prides itself with the Reichstag, built back in 1894 to house the parliament of the new empire. The building was designed by Paul Wallot, who gave it a Renaissance look, but in 1933 it was set on fire and the building went through severe damage.

The structure we can see today was restored by the renowned architect Norman Foster and features a stunning 360 degree glass dome overlooking the city.

8. Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence

The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower is the main landmark of the city of Florence, Italy and one of the largest churches in the whole country. Its construction began in 1296 in the Gothic style and was completed only a lot later, in 1436, with the dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi.

Its dome, also called the Dome of Florence, used to be the largest in the world until recent times, but it still remained the largest brick dome ever made until today.

7. Shah Mosque, Iran

The Shah Mosque from Isfahan, Iran, was built in 1629 during the Safavid period by the first Shah Abbas of Persia. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the Naghsh-e Jahan Square in which is located, the Shah Mosque is the epitome of the Persian architecture.

With a height of 53 meters, the dome is the tallest in Isfahan but the beauty of it is given by the impressive seven-color mosaic tiles and calligraphic inscriptions.

6. Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

Dating from the year 691, The Dome of the Rock is one of the oldest examples of Islamic architecture and the most recognizable landmark of the Old City of Jerusalem.

The architects drawn their inspiration from Byzantine design for the mosaics and the Chapel of St. Mary for the octagonal plane. The dome protects the Foundation Stone, a sacred rock in the Temple Mount that’s believed to have been the location of the Holy of Holies back in the times.

5. Pantheon, Rome

Dating from 126 AD, Rome’s Pantheon is one of the best preserved buildings from the Roman Empire and one of the oldest buildings on our list.

The building has a circular layout with a portico of granite Corinthian columns and a vestibule connected to the rotunda covered by a concrete dome. With a central opening toward the sky and its unreinforced concrete structure, the dome is an architectural masterpiece, still holding the title as the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world.

4. St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican

The St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City is probably the most impressive work of the Renaissance architecture, having had Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini as its main designers.

The original church was situated there from Constantine’s time and it’s the burial site of St. Peter, the first Pope and the Bishop of Rome, but the basilica we can see today was only built in 1506. Its dome, rising 136 meters from the floor, is the tallest dome in the world.

3. Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

Dating from 537, Hagia Sophia was the cathedral of Constantinople (nowadays Istanbul, Turkey) until the 15th century, when it was transformed into a mosque by the Ottomans who conquered the city.

Today a museum showcasing the mastery of the Roman architects through its immense dome, Hagia Sophia is widely considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture, an impressive work of art that for one thousand years it held the title of the world’s largest cathedral.

2. Taj Mahal, Agra, India

One of the most iconic landmarks of the entire world, the Taj Mahal was raised between 1632 and 1653 at the order of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, his favorite of the three he had.

Located in Agra, India, Taj Mahal means the ‘crown of palaces’ in Persian. The building features a stunning marble dome, lovely gardens, two red sandstone buildings around it and a crenelated wall on three sides. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and has around 3 million of tourists visiting each year.

1. Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow

Dating from the 16th century and located in the Red Square in Moscow, the Saint Basil’s Cathedral is now a museum with periodic religious services held by the Russian Orthodox Church.

The tallest building in the city at the time of its completion, the cathedral was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible to commemorate the victory against Kazan and Astrakhan. The shape of the building symbolizes a flame rising toward the sky and has no correspondent in the entire Russian architecture.

There are nine domes with different shapes and colors which later became the typical motif in the design of Russian churches.